South Africa
Penguins at Boulders Beach and Table Mountain in Cape Town, then a malaria-free safari in the Eastern Cape.
Trips that work for every age at once, with sensible flights, space to spread out and something for everyone each day
Family: Family holidays
Family holidays, planned properly
Family travel is about getting the shape right. A flight that suits small children, a room with space for everyone, and a day that has something for the adults as well as the children matter more than any single sight.
We plan around ages. Toddlers need short transfers and a pool. Ten-year-olds love wildlife and water. Teenagers want something that feels grown-up, such as a glacier walk, a surf lesson or a safari on foot. Multi-generation trips need a place that suits grandparents too.
What this means with us
It means choosing places that genuinely welcome families, not ones that simply allow them: kids' clubs that children enjoy, villas with a private pool, and safari camps with family tents and guides who are good with children.
It also means realistic pacing. Fewer moves, shorter drives and afternoons off make for happier children and calmer parents. We will also tell you honestly where school holiday dates mean crowds or higher prices, and when a slightly different week makes a big difference.
Where it works best
Our shortlist, and the reason each one earns its place.
Costa Rica
Sloths, toucans and turtles, zip-lines through the canopy, and Pacific beaches to finish.
Mauritius
Calm lagoon swimming, good kids' clubs and family rooms, and easy day trips to the Black River Gorges.
USA
National park road trips, from the geysers of Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, with California beaches at the end.
Canada
Canoeing on Lake Louise, wildlife spotting in Banff and Jasper, and whale watching off Vancouver Island.
Italy
A villa with a pool in Tuscany or Puglia, with day trips to Florence, beaches and plenty of gelato.
Greece
The Minoan palace at Knossos on Crete, family villas and shallow, warm bays a short flight from the UK.
Japan
Bullet trains, Tokyo arcades, the deer of Nara and hands-on workshops in Kyoto that older children love.
Canary Islands
Year-round warmth close to home, with volcanic landscapes on Tenerife and Lanzarote and easy beaches.
Family holidays journeys
Sample routes to start from. Every one can be changed.
Athens and the Peloponnese coast: ten nights with the family
Three nights in Athens for the Acropolis and the museums, then a drive west via the Corinth Canal to seven nights on the Messinia coast, where a kids club, an aqua park and ancient Olympia keep every age busy.
Barbados with children: ten nights on the calm west coast
One base, no transfers: ten nights at a family hotel on the calm west coast near Holetown, with turtles off the beach, a catamaran day, Harrison's Cave and the wild Atlantic side at Bathsheba. A direct flight from London.
Costa Rica with children: volcano, cloud forest and Pacific coast
Ten nights for active families: hot springs and hanging bridges below Arenal Volcano, night walks and ziplines in the Monteverde cloud forest, then four nights on a Pacific beach in Guanacaste with a private driver between each stop.
Places to stay that suit it
&Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge
A lodge of curved timber shingles on a private concession next to Moremi, with walks, night drives and a welcome for children of every age.
Amanemu
Hot spring suites and villas above Ago Bay in Ise-Shima National Park, close to the Ise Grand Shrine.
Amanzoe
Stone pavilions on a Peloponnese hilltop, each with its own pool, and a beach club ten minutes down the hill.
Amilla Maldives
A big, independently run Baa Atoll island with roomy pool villas, family residences and a relaxed, unfussy style that suits all ages.
Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
A Thai-styled resort on the Palm with swim-out lagoon rooms and the only overwater villas in the UAE, at a gentler price than its neighbours.
Angama Mara
Glass-fronted tents on the lip of the Rift Valley, 300 metres above the Mara Triangle, with a private road down into the reserve.
Questions about family holidays
What is a good first long-haul trip with young children?
Choose somewhere with one flight, a short transfer and very little moving around. Mauritius, the Caribbean and Dubai all work well, with calm water, family rooms and good kids' clubs. Pick one or two hotels rather than four or five, and plan the first day as a rest day. Once you know how your children travel, you can be more ambitious.
Can we take children on safari?
Yes. Many camps welcome families, though some set minimum ages for game drives or walking, and some ask you to book a private vehicle. Malaria-free reserves in South Africa suit younger children well. From about eight or nine, children tend to get the most out of it, and many camps run programmes for young rangers.
How do we plan for different ages on one trip?
Choose a base with plenty to do, then add a few activities for each age group. A villa with a pool gives everyone space. Split days work well too: teenagers on a surf lesson or glacier walk while younger children and grandparents take things slowly. We plan so that everyone gets at least one day built around them.
Plan your family holidays
Tell us who is travelling and roughly when. A specialist will reply with places that fit and a price.